The Arizona sentinel., 1887-02-05
HE HELPED THE KING.

By Being Faithful in a Small Thing a
 Shepherd Boy Became Greatly Hon ored.
 There was little shepherd-boy who kept his sheep down in lonely valley. War was raging in the land, and the boy would have liked to go out and fight against the enemy, but he was too young. He was good boy, careful of his sheep and kind to his dog, and active and industrious at his work; and at home he was obedient and gen tie, and always ready to do good turn for any one. But, though he liked his work, he would have liked better to fight, and he was very sorry that he could not be a soldier. One day long column of loose soldiers, with bright red coats and flashing helmets, and trumpets sounding, rode through the valley on their way to battle. Among them was young soldier, a cousin of the shepherd-boy, and not many years older. The boy called to him, and bade him goodbye, and as the soldiers disappeared at the end of the valley, he said to himself: 'I wish I were as old as my cousin, that I might go out to fight the Kings battles. He will risk his life to help the King, and, may be, he may do something great, and help to win battle and save our country; but can do nothing but stay here and watch a few sheep. l wish I could do something to help the King" As he said these words pigeon came came hurriedly flying close over his head. The boy looked up, and there was a hawk chasing after her. The poor bird flew round and round, and here and there, and managed to escape as far as the next meadow; but she was close followed at every turn by the hungry hawk, and it was clear that she would be caught in a minute, if no help came. There was no time to go round by the gate, so in a moment the boy jumped on high stone-wall that parted the two meadows; it was a high wall, and there was a steep, rough rock on the other side. The jump was a dangerous one, but without moments hesitation the brave lad leaped down, and the next moment-though he sprain- ed his foot and fell, striking :one cheek against a sharp edge in the rock-he was up again on his feet, and finging his crook at the hawk he stopped him just in time to save the poor trembling pigeon. Then he took up the pigeon, more dead than alive, and stroked it gently. In few min utes it seemed to gain strength and courage. Meantime, the shepherd-boy, limping as he went, carried the bird round to the meadow where he was keeping his sheep. And now, while he was feeding the pigeon with some bread crumbs it came into his mind: "What am 1 to do with this pretty bird?" At trst he said: twill take it home to my brothers and sisters. "How pleased they will ber' Then it occurred to him: Perhaps the pigeon belongs to some one else. Indeed it must, for it's not wild wood-pigeon, but tame one; and besides, some one has tied a silk thread and piece of paper round its neck But then, have not Isavedit? It would have been killed but for me. Surely it belongs to me. And besides, l if 1 let it go, may not another hawk kill it?' All this he thought to himself, and part of it he spoke aloud. But when l. G. L, &oII l. that he ought not to keep the pigeon; it was very hard to let it go, but it was right. So he kissed the pigeon and said: "Good-bye; go home to your master who gave you your little silk collar"
 Away flew the pigeon straight toward l a castle at the top of hill a long way off, and at the same time away gallOped a man on horseback down in the deep lane that ran by the side of the meadow. The boy wondered for minute who it was that had been quietly waiting in the lane, but soon he forgot all about that. Now, you must know that this man who galloped off when the pigeon l flew away was no other than the King. The King had been riding a little be- hind his soldiers, and had heard all the | shepherd boys complaints, and how he wanted to do something to help the King. He had also noticed how the brave boy had jumped from the top of a high wall and | had saved the pigeon. Moreover, just as the pigeon was rising to fly away, he had noticed the little piece | of paper tied by the silk thread round | the pigeons neck. He had not noticed | this while the bird was in the boys | hand, but whsp it began to flap its ]